Το απόθεμα στο κατάστημα τελειώνει, γι’ αυτό πρέπει να αγοράσουμε σήμερα.

Breakdown of Το απόθεμα στο κατάστημα τελειώνει, γι’ αυτό πρέπει να αγοράσουμε σήμερα.

να
to
σήμερα
today
πρέπει
to have to
σε
in
αγοράζω
to buy
γι’ αυτό
so
το κατάστημα
the store
τελειώνω
to run out
το απόθεμα
the stock

Questions & Answers about Το απόθεμα στο κατάστημα τελειώνει, γι’ αυτό πρέπει να αγοράσουμε σήμερα.

What does απόθεμα mean in this sentence?
Απόθεμα means stock, supply, or inventory. In this sentence, it refers to the goods available in the store. So το απόθεμα is basically the store’s stock.
Why is it το απόθεμα and not just απόθεμα?
Greek uses the definite article very often. Το απόθεμα means the stock. Even when English might say something more general like stock is running out, Greek often prefers the article. Here it sounds natural because we are talking about the specific stock in that store.
What does στο κατάστημα mean literally?

Στο is a contraction of σε + το, so it literally means in the or at the.
Κατάστημα means store or shop.

So στο κατάστημα means in the store or at the shop.

What case is κατάστημα in after στο?

After σε (and therefore after στο), Greek uses the accusative. So κατάστημα here is accusative singular.

Because κατάστημα is a neuter noun, its nominative and accusative singular forms are the same, so you do not see a change in the ending.

What does τελειώνει mean here?

Τελειώνει is from τελειώνω, which can mean finish, end, or run out, depending on context.

Here, with το απόθεμα, the most natural meaning is is running out. So the idea is not just it ends, but more specifically the stock is getting used up.

Why is τελειώνει in the present tense?

The present tense here shows an ongoing situation: the stock is currently being used up. Greek often uses the present in places where English would say is running out.

So Το απόθεμα... τελειώνει gives the sense that this is happening now, not that it already happened.

What does γι’ αυτό mean, and why is it written that way?

Γι’ αυτό means for that, because of that, or more naturally in English, so, therefore, or that’s why.

It is a shortened form of για αυτό. The apostrophe shows that a vowel has been dropped in pronunciation and writing. This shortening is very common in everyday Greek.

Why is there a comma before γι’ αυτό?

The comma separates two linked ideas:

  • Το απόθεμα στο κατάστημα τελειώνει
  • γι’ αυτό πρέπει να αγοράσουμε σήμερα

The first part gives the reason, and the second part gives the result. In English, this works like The stock is running out, so we need to buy today.

What exactly is πρέπει doing in this sentence?

Πρέπει is an impersonal verb meaning it is necessary, one must, must, or should, depending on context.

So πρέπει να αγοράσουμε literally means it is necessary that we buy, but in natural English that becomes we must buy or we should buy.

Why do we need να after πρέπει?

After πρέπει, Greek normally uses να plus a verb.
So:

  • πρέπει να αγοράσουμε = we must buy

You generally cannot just say πρέπει αγοράσουμε. The να is part of the normal structure.

Why is it αγοράσουμε and not αγοράζουμε?

Αγοράσουμε is the aorist subjunctive form, used after να here. It refers to a single complete action: to buy.

That fits this sentence, because the idea is we need to make the purchase today.

If you said πρέπει να αγοράζουμε, that would suggest a repeated or habitual action, more like we should be buying or we should buy regularly, which is not the meaning here.

Why is σήμερα at the end of the sentence?

Greek word order is more flexible than English word order. Σήμερα means today, and putting it at the end is perfectly natural.

It can also add a little emphasis, as if saying we need to buy today.
You could also say Σήμερα πρέπει να αγοράσουμε, but the original version sounds very natural too.

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